Barry Bagels hosts Coffee with a Cop

Avon police Officer Jeannine Mazzeo smiles as she converses with the Rev. Elise Pitts, of Christian Heritage Church, on Oct. 4 during the Avon Police Department’s Coffee With a Cop gathering at Barry Bagels, 2100 Center Road. Pitts’ church was one of the sponsors of the community building event.
Eric Bonzar — The Morning Journal

Barry Bagels, 2100 Center Road in Avon, was the most recent site for Avon Police Department’s “Coffee with a Cop,” which is a program that is set to promote communications between police officers and the citizens of Avon.

“It is an event we try to do semi-annually and sometimes quarterly,” said Avon police Lt. Keith Haag. “It gives us an opportunity to meet people in a nonenforcement capacity.”

“Coffee with a Cop” was a great example of how the Avon Police Department is involved in the community, Haag said. “It certainly makes our job easier when we support the community.

“The community is very helpful to us and we are glad to give support in return. We cannot do the job without them.”

The purpose of the event is to ask questions and there are typically a variety of them, Haag said.

“Someone may ask us about a citation they received last year or what would be our response if terrorist-level attack occurred here in Avon,” he said. “We won’t answer all questions, but we want to keep open communication with the community.”

About a dozen people attended the event.

Avon resident Elise Pitts said the community is aware of the efforts the Police Department makes and appreciates their hard work.

“The Police Department is superb,” Pitts said. “They have done a great job managing the changes, and there have been many in Avon.

“We can all see it and are very proud of what they have done and what our entire community has accomplished.”

Phyllis Lemasters, another Avon resident, said that the Police Department is ever present in the community.

“The Police Department is always ready to help the city and are often in talks with my church for local events,” Lemasters said. “I often see the police at community events and their involvement can only improve Avon.”

Jenny Carter, the owner of Barry Bagels, said she was more than happy to host the event.

“Avon has been great and the community has been very supportive of us since we moved in around a year ago,” Carter said. “We are glad to play a role in the community by hosting this and future events.”

Haag said the Police Department has been very lucky.

“Not all communities are as receptive and supportive as ours is,” he said. “I have been a lieutenant in Avon since 2003, and have been at the department since 1995.

“It has been awesome to see the city grow and the Police Department is glad to play a part in it.”